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 'A Life of Lily' 

CHAPTER 7

To Work

I started work at Waterloo with a paper sorting Company for ten shillings a week.  The hours were eight to six o'clock Monday to Friday and eight to one o'clock on Saturdays.  I had to catch the workmen's' train, 4d return, from Clapham Junction to Waterloo.   I had three pence for my dinner money, two penny worth of fish and one penny worth of chips, or a piece of cheese with a hunk of bread.  Sometimes I would go down the Cut near Hungerford Bridge, and get a basin of pea soup for two pence, or meat pie and mash for three pence.

One day I sat on the side of a chute and the next thing I was tumbling down three floors.  Lucky for me, I fell into a bale of paper with my legs in the air ‑ what a sensation!   I could have been killed, as it was all concrete if the bale hadn't been there.   Our job was to sort paper in different baskets.  One time a very nasty girl kept pushing my baskets over, so eventually we came to blows.  It was a good fight; we both pulled each other's hair.  Nobody liked her, so they were saying "Go on Lil, bash her."    Anyway, someone went to fetch the Boss, and we were not allowed to go to work for three days.

I had to tell a lie to my Mum; told her there wasn't any work for me.  By the way, you didn't get paid if you were late or ill.

When we started back at work we both had to see Miss Russell and Mr. Wood.  They asked both of us questions.   I replied,  "You ask her, Dolly.   She called me terrible names."  The other girl wouldn't repeat what she had said, so I had to tell (it wasn't very nice), she called me "A F….  whore." They were very shocked, so she was suspended for a whole week. After that we were separated to different floors.

Sometimes a friend and I used to take it in turns to push each other on a large trolley.  This was more fun than working. One time the Boss came round to see if we were doing our job, but I wasn't there ‑ I was coming full pelt, honking on a trolley pushed by my friend.  Well, he was thunderstruck.   He remarked to me, "Nothing will convince me that you and Annie are sisters." I rushed home that night to tell my Mum, who was furious. "I'm going with you tomorrow to see him."  

We got the workmen's train to Waterloo.  We had to wait to see him but at last we were told to enter.   Mum said, "I've come to see you regarding your nasty remark to my Lil, about her and Ann not being sisters.   Do you think I slept with a Black Man?   Let me tell you, I've got a large family by the same man, my husband."  

He was very fawning to her  "Oh, your daughter is very highly thought of by me.   She knows how to sort perfectly."  

So Mum had the last word "Well, don't you pick on her any more; we know she has got plenty of spunk and won't take any insult from anybody.  Ann is very quiet, so my Lil makes up for her."   He tried to get rid of us both; he stood up and told my Mum that the interview was over.  As she was walking away, she said he was a 'Saucy Bugger'.   He always was nice to me after that.  "Well done," I told my Mum as she left me to go home again.   I didn't stop long in the job after that episode.

My next job was in a small Chocolate factory, making high class chocolates.  There were only six girls working there. As I was there at Easter time I had the job of piping the two halves of Easter Eggs together. There was a mould to make mauve violets, then we had to put yellow dots in the middle, and lay them out on a tray to be crystallised. Some were put on the Easter Eggs.   As I was the youngest, that was my job.   The other girls used to make beautiful flowers, roses etc, to put on the eggs.   Another job I had to do was to take samples of our products to different high-class sweet shops. 

My boss was a very clever man.  He once made a model train, with carriages and with people sitting in them, all made with different coloured chocolates.   We went to an Exhibition and he received second prize.   We all received a round Scottish plaid ornamental case with little drawings on it.  I think it was to put jewellery in.   I gave that to my Gran.  

Unfortunately the boss was taken ill and died. As they had no children and his wife couldn't run the business on her own, it went bust, and she went back to Germany.  Before the company closed I gave them a weeks notice.   I didn't like being cooped up.

When I told my Mum, she said, "You will have to go into Service."  She had been in service herself before she was married.  

So I went to work as a maid in a big house near Wandsworth Common.   There was an elderly house parlour maid, a cook and myself.  The people I worked for were business people who were both out at work. I had to take two dinners on plates at about 12.30 and travel on a bus and deliver their dinners at work at about 1 o'clock.  This happened every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I didn't have to go Thursdays, Friday, or Saturday, as they had an evening meal about eight o'clock.  My job was to help wash up, turn beds down, clean silver and the brass.  After I had been there a while, the cook left, followed by the parlour maid.  An Italian came to work there and I couldn't understand her.  It was all 'do this, do that'. Since 'this' and 'that' weren't my job, I told my Lady I was giving her a week's notice.  She understood, and said she was going to sell up and live in the country. 

My next job was to work upstairs over a pub. On my first night I was dressed in the usual black uniform, when the Missus sent me down a flight of iron stairs to collect something from the bar. I was chatted up by a customer  "What do you want darling?"  ... I became scared and my Boss who was serving behind the bar, said, "It's all right Lily, I will send them up."   I never had to go down to the bar again.  

One day, I was dusting in their bedroom, when I accidentally broke a cut glass bowl, which was on her dressing table.   I went and told her what had happened, and she said I would have to pay for it out of my wages. Fortunately she let me off, as she said she found me a satisfactory worker.   Well, after a while they seemed to put on me more work than I should be doing; wanted me to clean the windows‑ "No Way," I said, so I gave her my notice.... Exit again! To Wimbledon.

I went into service at Wimbledon as Under Parlour Maid; I was about 16 or 17 years old then.   The house was owned by two sisters who took in boarders, mainly foreign girls learning English.  There were over a dozen servants. Four of the maids were Welsh and used to sing hymns together in their spare time. We all wore a uniform; mine had white starched cuffs and collars.  I had to pay back 6 pence a week for the cost of the uniform. 

The cook was very fat and used to drink. Often there was a hare hanging to mature.  The Boiler man was a bit simple, and his main job was to make sure that all the coal buckets were full.  There were lots of rooms so he was kept busy.

As Under Parlour Maid I had to take tea on a tray into the two sisters in their private sitting room.  Often I would pinch a cake for Doris and myself. Nurse once told us that they had counted them and noted that there were two short. Doris was younger than me (only 14) and it was her first job.  The Vicar often came to tea.

I always had my half-day a week courting Bill.  I must say I was well-fed, lovely food.   One Sunday we were all sitting having our dinner when my bell started to ring, meaning that the Mistress wanted me.   I took no notice and the cook said, "Your bell is ringing ."   (In the kitchen there were a row of bells on the wall, each was labelled: Cook, Parlour maid, Under Parlour Maid, House Man etc.). I replied, "Let it ring, I'm having my dinner."  She replied, "There will be no afters for you ‑ you Slut." 

I didn't know what that meant, but guessed that it was an insult. I upped with my dinner plate and threw it at her.  I ran like hell to my basement room, the cook chased me like a mad bull waving a large carving knife. Doris ran with me.  I managed to lock the door.  The cook was bashing at the door but eventually went away.  I thought it better to leave so I packed my case.   Doris thought it wiser to do the same.  Our problem was "How do we get out of here, when we are in a basement? ... I know."   Before we left I turned on the tap in the sink. We then climbed up the coalhole chute and came up outside, free but filthy dirty.

Fortunately a lorry came by and I waved frantically for the driver to stop.  He did and said, "Doing a bunk, Lasses?"  I said, "You guessed right.  Can you take us to Wandsworth?"   He said, "Yes, jump in the back Lasses."  We pulled ourselves up over the tail‑board and we were away.  When we arrived at Doris's house I told her Mum some story that put the blame on the Cook.  Then Doris came to my house and told the same story to my Mum.  I wanted to keep my uniform; I thought that I had paid for it by then.  Dad made me take it back. The two sisters asked me to go back but I thought it would be silly to do so.

I didn't return, but I laughed when I thought how the other maids (mainly Welsh), who never went out, had to do the clearing up. I never got the sack, always left first.   Next Job,  Finchley.

My next job was in Finchley, a very large house having a large music room.  The people were very nice but as I was young she put more and more work on me.  When she was out I would enjoy myself playing on the instruments in the music room.  I still can't play a note really.

One day Madam took me out and bought me a nice apron and cap as she was giving a big party. She told me to have a bath and make sure I used her toilet powders and scent etc.  Then I had to come down for an inspection.  I had instructions that when the guests arrived I was to take their clothes and hats and put them in a closet.  The party was going full swing.  I had to take the glasses away when she rang the bell, which I did, but they kept on leaving drinks in the glasses, which I drank myself. I think I was drunk, but what a lovely sensation; I saw beautiful bubbles going round and round, but can't remember much more.

Early next morning I went down to the kitchen to make their early morning tea. What a shock for me! I saw stacked up piles of washing up, and glasses.  I started washing up but as it was my afternoon off I didn't finish the job.  I used to leave about 12 o'clock so I asked her for my wages, as I didn't have my fare money to get home.  At first she refused but I told her my Mum wanted her money and at last she repented.  I was most upset, so I packed my case.  I had no intention of going back again, but what grieved me most was that I left under the pillow one set of wonderful pyjamas; they were mauve with a pink strip down the side, and had a round neck.  I felt like a Queen in them. 

Next job Hampton Court.

I had the time of my life. My employers were very good to me and treated me like a member of their family. Mr. and Mrs. X called me their adopted daughter Lillian.  I always sat down to eat with them.  I have happy memories of when we all sat down in the winter round a roaring coal fire.  I always had to make sure that the coalscuttle was full for the night. We had our cocoa about ten o'clock every night before going off to bed. I had a very nice room and never had to wear a uniform.  Treated me like my Mum and Dad, and were good people.  My mistress liked to do her own washing and cooking.  I helped to prepare and laid the table.

They had a son Eric who they wanted me to go with.  No way! I didn't like him and I was courting my Bill. There were two other sons who were married.  One of the daughters‑in‑law (nicknamed Swans‑neck because of her long neck) was very jealous of me. They didn't like her and told her they wished I were going to be their daughter‑in‑law.

When Eric wasn't going with a girl friend, I used to get chocolates, fruit etc.  We used to argue a lot. I knew that he used to pinch some loose cash collected on his lorry round.   I told him I would tell his Dad, but I never did.

Monday was washing day (including my washing) and I had to help with the old fashion Dolly tub. I had to swing the washing round using the wooden handle on the top of the tub.  The whites always came out spotless.  I then had to turn an old fashion iron mangle with large wooden rollers to squeeze the water out. Then the washing was hung out to dry on about four long lines; it was lovely to see it all blowing in the wind and sunshine.

Tuesday was baking day.  I had to get all the ingredients out of a large pantry ready for Mrs. X to use.  She made smashing ginger cake in a large tray and cut it up into slices.  Also she made round fruitcake in a tin and bread pudding.  She always gave me a sample, to try it out on me.  I lived very well.

On Wednesdays I used to do the usual cleaning but had the afternoon off. My Bill who was night working would come down on our tandem and we would go out for a ride to Walton‑on‑Thames or East Mosley.  I had to be back by nine o'clock to go to an off‑licence to get Mr. X his nightly pint of beer in a jug.  When I came back at about 9‑15, I said good night to Bill.

Thursday morning was kitchen day.  Mr. X used to get up and put the brush up the chimney before I got up to start my chores.  This was done every week.    They had a very large kitchen grate.  I black-leaded it until it shone like diamonds.  The next job was to wash the kitchen floor.  Nobody was allowed to go in the kitchen until it was dry.  After this I had to do the scullery.  In the afternoon Mrs. X used to take me shopping with her to Kingston.  We would go into Bentalls, one of the largest shops. I used to buy sheets and pillowcases, towels etc for my bottom drawer.  They gave me a very large chest to put them in.  Then Mrs. X and I would always go and have a cream tea before going home again for a late dinner.

On Fridays I did general household chores. Mrs. X always went to her Mothers' Meeting on Friday afternoons.  I was supposed to work to 5 o'clock but after I had been there quite a while, I used to skip off early, because I was courting my Bill.  I had to be at Hammersmith by 5 o'clock and waiting at the factory gate to meet him (I had not seen him since Wednesday).  I would always put the hall clock on an hour, and leave early to catch the train from Hampton Court station.  Once who did I see walking towards me was my mistress and I couldn't avoid her.  She said "You are going home early Lilian."  I said I didn't think so.   "Oh, maybe my watch has stopped" she said.  I said cheerio and was on my way.  They never ever said anything to me about it but I guess that they knew.  I did it many times.

A little while after that meeting, they knew I was courting and since it was a long way for my Bill to come down and see me, they said I could go home on Friday afternoon till Monday morning.   I used to catch the workmen's train back first thing on Monday morning.  I worked there many years,

One night a very smart young man, in a flash red car, called to see them on business.  I was sitting with them in the large lounge when my mistress introduced me as their adopted daughter Lillian.  After he had finished the conversation he asked me, "Can you dance?"  I replied "yes."  He said "I will take you one night to the Ace of Spades at Kingston."   "Oh no you won't" said my mistress.  Afterwards she explained to me why it wasn't a nice place to go to.  The girls there were all pick‑up girls. He was much older than me, no way would I have gone.  By the way I still can't dance.

After many happy years there I left to get married.

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